The Belly Lift
March 16, 2009
Face lifts pull saggy skin up and back to reduce wrinkles, but what about your abdominal muscles or your stomach? You know that unsightly pouch that many women experience after pregnancy. Or how about that gut that hangs out over those, oh, so cute jeans you bought in hopes that you would lose enough weight to wear them? Well, guess what? It is now time to pack up those big sweaters you wore to cover up those extra holiday pounds, and break out the bathing suits and cute T’s you wear in the summertime or when you go to the beach on that much deserved vacation. Not to mention a vacation is supposed to help you get away from the stress of life, so the last thing you want to worry about is how you are going to look in your summer wardrobe.
If you want to pull that pouch in or tighten up your abs to eliminate the rolls hanging over those cute jeans then you definitely need to become friends with your TRANSVERSE ABDOMINUS MUSCLE, better known as the corset muscle of the abdominal group. This is the most important muscle in the abdominal group, but it has been the most overlooked when it comes to training. If you place your hands on your stomach (lower portion) and cough you will feel this muscle push out against your fingers. Training this muscle will lift your abdominal wall, gut, up and in, therefore decreasing the belly bulge, or pouch, we all hate to see in the mirror.
The best way to work the Transverse Abdominus muscle is with the vacuum exercise.
Lie on your back with your knees bent. Inhale through your nose, allowing your lungs to expand fully. Exhale through your mouth, press your abs strongly inward as if you are trying to push your navel towards your spine. Hold this contraction for 10 seconds and continue to breathe. (If you are holding your breath then you are using the WRONG muscle, diaphragm, not your transverse abdominus muscle.) Repeat 10 times. Once you have mastered this exercise in the lying down position, practice it in sitting and standing. After this has become a habit you will notice a flatter, stronger, and more attractive midsection.
Entry Filed under: Health. Tags: abdominal exercise, abdominal muscles, after pregnancy, attractive midsection, belly bulge, diaphragm, exerciste, flat midsection, flat stomach, most overlooked muscle, saggy skin, tighten up those abs.
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1. Diana Hanna | April 4, 2009 at 1:50 am
i am a mother of four the oldest is seventeen and the youngest is five months old. right now i am wearing a size 16 just for my stomach. if this work tell me what i need to do.
2. liveliving | April 6, 2009 at 6:14 pm
The abdominal exercise, such as the vacuum exercise, would definitely help you achieve a smaller size. I would practice the exercise daily by pulling your abdominals in. Once you have mastered the exercise on your back, begin performing it sitting and standing. Before long it will become something you do naturally all of the time. I would also add at least 30 minutes of walking every day and take a good look at the foods you are eating. Decrease your sugar intake and don’t clean the plates of your kids by eating their leftovers. Eat what is on your plate and put it away for later, but it is NEVER a good idea to force them to clean their plates because it creates bad eathing habits for them and you don’t want the extra calories by eating your food and theirs as well.
Once you have established a 30 minute walking routine daily and have adjusted your caloric intake, I would suggest getting into a workout routine where you are building muscle. This will give you the definition and tone I think you are looking for and DEFINITELY decrease the size of clothes you are wearing.
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